HOW WE CAN RESPOND TO THE SCANDAL

The terrible news of allegations, many substatiated, of sexual immorality, victimization of children and adults, including seminarians, and abuses of power by certain bishops and hundreds of priests, as well as systematic patterns of silence and concealment by some church leaders who knew of the abuses, are being met with justified anger, shame and indignation by Catholics. Here are letters from Pope Francis and our Archbishop addressing these grave moral failures. Here are letters with accusations and counter-accusations aimed at members of the Church hierarchy regarding failures to address underlying causes of scandalous behavior by priests and bishops. But here, too, are frank responses from other bishops and well-informed, faithful lay men and womenthat do address some underlying causes of the crisis, that call for frank answers and swift correction, and teaching us how we, the Body of Christ, ought to respond faithfully regarding repentence, justice and healing. Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us.

Pray for the continuing sanctification of the Church, for the fidelity of all priests and bishops to their vows, for Church leaders to act with courage to discover the truth about the moral failures of our clergy and shepherds, to correct the causes of sins against chastity and persons and abuses of power, to seek repentence from and just punishment for the perpetrators, and to obtain healing for all victims. Pray for growth in personal holiness of each member of the Body of Christ, for forgiveness of our sins, and especially for the growth in the virtues of chastity and humility. St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, patron of priests, Pray for us. Our Lady, Mother of the Church, Pray for us.

Here is a link to the Ave Maria Radio RESOURCES PAGEwith information from bishops about the sexual abuse crisis, as well as news items, commentaries and pastoral advice with suggestions for how lay persons can understand and respond.